WHY WE MUST SERVE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1413, 13 April 1912, Page 6

WHY WE MUST SERVE.

OUR SOLDIERING

MOVE TO BACK IT .UP.

(By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.)

Christchurch, April 12. A.. representative meeting of proininei citizens, called by the Mayor (All'. J. Dougall), was iicid at tho Council Char bers fo a scheme lor .forwardii tho iiaivorstiHtraining mbvemtat. The Mayor said that a certain iectic in Christcliurcli were opposed to tl nndversal training scheme, and regard; it as equivalent to conscription. Again this attitude they must set their face Tho movement was valuable, not only i a method of defence, but as a method i instilling discipline into our young niei He, as. well as others present, had ha eonie experience of the volunteer inovi ment, and in consequence supported tli Territorial movement. The icita that li was going to put beiorc them had emai ated .'from Mr. J. 'J?. M. leaser, Crow Prosecutor of Dunedin, who had writte to say that a meeting on similar line was to bo held the same evening in Hi Town Hall there. The proposal was tha citizens, might become honorary niembei of Territorial companies, such meinbei to iKiy a small annual subscription 01 say, as., the proceeds to go towards prize for shooting or something similar, aii 1 not to ...be used by the Government tc •wards the general cost of the movement Ho himself 1 would like to see a certan portioned!'. tho money go towards the for ligation of-a good band. Tho proposal ha< the support of Gen'eral Godley, who eouli 1)0 relied upon to knock it into shape and give" it practical application. Th ■ General''deserved the thanks ot' the pco pie of New Zealand for the very tactfu way in.'.which. he had .administered th Territorial scheme. The t resolution, whicl ■he was™going to submit to them ant which would bo submitted in Dunedii plso, was:— "Thii. meeting cordially approves of the suggestion (hat citizens should be accordetl the privilege of becoming honorary incni'jers of the 'Territorial forces, find pledges itself to support any organisation for the creation of such members that authorities . may see lit to approve." Mr" Geo. Hayper, formerly captain o! tho College 'liilles, said that the idea hat his fullest support, and lie would move tile fesnhition. . Mr. -C.' &• Hurst-,Seager, in seconding said that"' the biiys who had come bad from tile camps were walking advertise inents to the Territorial movement. The Eev. \V. S. liean said that he hat: apoken at haphazard to,a number of tin young. men who had returned from the Afarslijaiids camp, and all except, one had expre.-S''d themselves as th'irouthly satisfied. Ho Mas., convinced that those whe went int.i camp anti-militarists had come out militarists. Bishop Grimes said that the idea that the Government wanted to found a nation of warriors v.as quite a wrong one. The Territorial movement seemed to him, on the contrary, to be an excellent means of preventing war. Quite recently a great national crisis had been averted because of tho knowledge that Britain was ready. He thought, that the scheme should have the support of every loyal .citizen. The resolution was then carried unanimously, and the gentlemen present were formed 1 into a committee to meet from time to time, and to assist the scheme. 1 DUNEDIN MEETING. IBy TelcsraDh—Press Association.! Dunedin, April 12. A meeting of those interested in itrengtheiiing tho Territorial movement by tho inclusion of honorary members was held in„ the Town Hall to-night. There Verb about 59 people present, including some half-dozen ladies and a number of prominent citizens. The Mayor presided, and Mr. J. .!'• I'raser explained the scheme. t On the motion of Mr. J. H. Hoskmg, K.C., it was decided to heartily approve of the suggestion that civilians should ho accorded the privilege of becoming honorary members of the Territorial forces, and' to pledge their support to any organisation for the creation of such members that tho authorities might see fit to apnrovD. . Those present formed themselves into a committee to forward the movement.